THE Illawarra Hawks may not have been able to get the desired result in their clash against the Hills Hornets in their Round 5 clash in the National Basketball League (NBL)1 East Men’s, but Philip Dopud was a shining light.

The Hawks have found the going tough throughout the 2024 season, but came up against a Hornets side that was eager to break their losing streak and had struggled to conjure a win of late. The two teams locked horns at Hills Basketball Stadium on Saturday night, in a clash that certainly was not short of intrigue coming in.

The game panned out in exciting fashion for much of the contest, with both sides trading blows in an enthralling affair for three quarters. At the final change, Hills held a two-point lead in a match that looked destined to go down to the wire. However, Hills put the foot down in a dominant final term, outscoring Illawarra 31-10 to claim a 23-point victory in a margin that did not reflect the close nature of the game.

Despite the result, the Hawks will still be encouraged by the performance of Dopud, who was a physical presence in the paint for Illawarra.

Hills Hornets (92) def. Illawarra Hawks (69)

Philip Dopud – 17 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks

Dopud held his own in the tough loss to the Hawks, showing how bright his future truly is as a frontcourt player in Australian basketball.

He was extremely accurate with his field goal attempts, making six of his eight shots and rarely wasting a possession with patience and clever shot selection throughout the game.

His ability to stretch the floor was key in keeping the Hawks in the contest throughout the first three quarters, making two three-pointers on three attempts and proving deadly from downtown.

Dopud also remained active defensively, recording two steals and two blocks and thwarting several Hornets’ attacking plays.

At just 21 years of age, there is certainly plenty of growth left for the talented youngster. He had shown his potential in the past, particularly last season where he posted a 30-point, 15-rebound outing. However, Dopud is starting to put it together at a consistent level, and appears a big part of Illawarra’s future, so the team will be happy with his showing on the weekend.